BBC breached broadcasting rules by failing to challenge climate change sceptic Nigel Lawson, says Ofcom

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The BBC breached broadcasting regulation by failing to challenge comments made by the former chancellor and prominent climate change sceptic Lord Nigel Lawson during an interview on the Today programme, Ofcom has ruled.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "We found that statements made about the science of climate change were not challenged sufficiently during this interview, which meant the programme was not duly accurate.

"We've told the BBC we are concerned that this was the second incident of this nature, and on the same programme."

The former chancellor appeared on the programme on August 10 last year.

His comment that "all the experts say there hasn't been" an increase in extreme weather events and that the Independent Panel on Climate Change "concedes" this fact was found in breach.

Another that, according to the official figures, "during this past 10 years... average world temperature has slightly declined", was also found in breach. Other statements were not found in breach.

Additional reporting by PA